Catherine Cox retiring from international netball immediately, will finish season with Melbourne Vixens

Melbourne Vixens and Australia Diamonds goal shooter Catherine Cox announced her retirement from both domestic and international netball on Friday.

Cox, 37, has called time on her international career effective immediately and will not be available for selection in next week's Diamonds squad.

She will, however, play out the rest of the Vixens' campaign in the trans-Tasman competition.

"I'm looking forward to waking up and enjoying a life away from the netball court," Cox said in a club statement.

"I obviously want to stay involved with netball in some capacity beyond this season, this sport has given me so much and I have loved every minute of it, but after more than 18 years you just know when it's time for a change and something new in your life."

"I desperately want the Vixens to make the final and I don't want the end of the season to be about my retirement, it took me a long time to make this decision but now we can move on with the season as a team and do what we need to do to win a premiership," she said.

She also said she made the decision so as not to hamper Australia's chances in either the Glasgow Commonwealth Games or the 2015 World Championships.

"I'd been in consultation with Lisa Alexander (Diamonds head coach) about how I was feeling and where my head was at for the last six months and I've made the judgement call that it wasn't right for me, nor would it be fair on the Australian team, to continue on when I see the Diamonds' next couple of years as a block period with the Commonwealth Games and World Champs if I wasn't fully committed," she said.

"There are so many great shooters in Australia to choose from so I know they'll have nothing but success, and I will be there supporting them every step of the way."

Cox finishes with 108 international caps to her name since making her international debut in 1997.

She bows out as one of the sport's greatest shooters and one of only four Australian players to record 100 international Test appearances.

Cox won world championships in 2007 and 2011, Commonwealth Games gold in 2002 and captained her country nine times in her 16-year international career.